Treating symptomatic flexible flatfoot deformities. a novel technique: comparison of uc berkeley laboratory foot orthosis with and without kinesio taping in juvenil athletes.

PURPOSE: Symptomatic flexible pes planus (SFPP) can cause pain and discomfort when walking or engaging in sportive activities in children and adolescents. SFPP can be treated conservatively with foot orthoses, such as the University of California Berkeley Laboratory (UCBL) foot orthosis, which can improve foot function and reduce pain. Kinesio Tape (KT) has also been used as an adjunct to foot orthoses in the treatment of pes planus. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the UCBL foot orthosis with and without KT in the treatment of SFPP among amateur juvenile and adolescent athletes. METHODS: Fifty patients with SFPP were included in the study. In 27 patients UCBL foot orthosis with KT (group 1) was used whereas in 23 UCBL (group 2) was preferred only. The patients were evaluated with AOFAS and radiological measurements. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 28.6 ± 4.3(26) months. At the final follow-up AOFAS of group 1 was significantly higher than group 2. In group 2, 12 patients (%52,17) had pressure sores that caused superficial dermabrasion. Lateral TFMAs and talocalcaneal angle in group 1 was significantly better than group 2. CONCLUSIONS: This study attempted to determine if using KT with the UCBL foot orthosis was beneficial to the treatment of SFPP compared to simply wearing the orthosis. Our results suggest that KT is effective in reducing pronation and improving the AOFAS score. The use of UCBL with KT seems to be preferable in children and adolescents with SFPP since it is associated with a lower rate of complication, a higher degree of patient compliance and faster improvement in the radiological and clinical findings, compared to the use of the UCBL orthosis alone.

Perception of the A/H1N1 influenza pandemic and acceptance of influenza vaccination by Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 staff: A descriptive study.

We assessed the perception and attitudes of university staff, including medical school and other science specialties, toward the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic and influenza vaccination program. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 4,529 university personnel on October 19-20, 2009. Seven hundred (15%) employees participated in the study. Only 18% were willing to be vaccinated, men more than women (29% versus 9%, P < 0.001), and professors/researchers more than administrative/technical staff (30% vs. 6%, P < 0.001). Intention to be vaccinated was insufficient. Additional efforts are needed to improve information dissemination among university staff. Medical university personnel should receive more information to increase vaccine coverage and protect them as well as patients.

Manejo del retropié plano valgo flexible con la férula tipo UCBL en pacientes pedátricos: [revisión] / Management of the flexible flat hindfoot valvus with orthesis type UCBL in pediatric patients: [review]

El tratamiento de las diversas deformidades del pie varia según las patologías y es precisamente en el niño por su gran plasticidad biológica, en quien se pueden aplicar los diferentes resursos que se poseen para el tratamiento ortopédico conservador. En el presente trabajo se plantea una alternativa para el tratamiento del retropié valgo, con la férula termo formada tipo UCBL (University of California Biomechanics Laboratory. Demostrar la utilidad de la férula tipo UCBL en el tratamiento conservador del retropié valgo para postegar y/o evitar tratamientos quirúrgicos por deformidades severas. La muestra utilizada fue de 15 pacientes (6 niñas, 9 niños, con edades entre 2 años 6 meses y 10 años) con disfunción del brazo de palanca por pérdida de la rigidez ósea, debido a la subluxación de la articulación sub-astragalina (retropié valgo flexible), en quienes se utilizó la férula termoformada tipo UCBL con seguimiento promedio de 12 a 36 meses. Se evaluó clínicamente la flexibilidad del pié y la maniobra de Silverskiold y radiologicamente en bípeda estación estática, el ángulo Costa-Bertani, Astrágalo calcáneo y astrágalo-1er metatarsiano. 10 pacientes presentaron mejoría clínica y radiológica, 5 de los casos no evidenciaron cambios, sin embargo, mantuvieron su flexibilidad. La férula resultó útil, inclusive en los casos donde no se demostró corrección radiológica, ya que evitó estructuración de la deformidad.

The adequate treatment for foot deformities varies depending on the pathology, and because of the high plasticity found in children, it is in this age group where the available conservative treatment resources can be applied. An alternative for the valgus hindfoot treatment is presented in this paper, using the UCBL (University of California Biomechanies Laboratory) thermoshaped orthesis. To prove utility of the thermoformed UCBL type orthesis in the treatment of flexible pes valgus in orden to avoid fuseverity deformities. The study included 15 patients (6 female, 9 male, ages between 2 years 6 months and 10 years) with lever-arm dysfunction due to loss of bony rigidity with sub-astragaline joint subluxation (flexible valgus hindfoot), in whom UCBL thermoshaped orthesis was indicated with an average follow up between 12 to 36 monts. Foot flexibility was clinical evaluated; also Silverskiold maneuver and static bipedestation x-rays angles were measured. Ten patients showed clinical and radiological improvement, 5 patients showed no change, although flexibility was maintained. The UCBL orthesis was useful, even in cases were no radiological change was observed, because it avoided structuration of bony deformity.